The Baynard family - Lackham Countryside Centre

The Baynards of Lackham
After Sir Philip’s death 67 Constance, finally, married Sir Henry de
la Ryver. He died in 1401/02. In 1416 Lady de la Ryver settled Gt
Chalfield on her grandsons William and John Rouse. As VCH notes
The legal validity of this 68 and the previous settlement
made by Constance was of course doubtful in view of the
entails created by Sir Henry de Percy in 1349 and 1354
69
Constance died between 1417 – 25 and Sir William Rous inherited
the manor. Sir William was Chamberlain to Henry VI. The partisan
strife that eventually became the Wars of the Roses, led to a
dispute, in 1406, between the Duke of Gloucester and the Bishop of
Winchester 70 . The Bishop was a follower of the Duke of Lancaster
and Trowbridge and its castle were part of the Duchy of Lancaster.
When William Rouse claimed in 1406 that the Constableship of the
Castle was attached to the Manor of Chalfield (which seems
unlikely) and was supported by the Duke of Gloucester who
brought his Servants and foresters from Pewsham and
Blackmore forests and defended Rous’s possessions at
Chaulfield (Gt Chalfield) and ye office of Constable 71
so it can be seen that Rous was allied with Gloucester for many
years. In 1427 Rous’s claim to Gt Chalfield was challenged by
Thomas Beverley, son of Beatrice the daughter of Sir Henry de
67 Before 1366
68 This doubtful legality led to extensive litigation in the next 50 years but is
not relevant to this history, for details see VCH
69 VCH Wiltshire vol 7 pp 59-66 “Great Chalfield”
70 Henry, Cardinal Beaufort, the second son of John of Gaunt and Catherine
Swynford. Bishop of Winchester 1404-47
71 Pugin A & Pugin AW (1895) ibid p4 quoting from the MS mentioned in fn63
21